Top End T20 series: Carlton spinner Michael Archer included in Melbourne Renegades squad
Michael Archer rose to prominence with a hat-trick in the inaugural Melbourne T10 Invitational. Now, he’s taken a huge step toward a career in the Big Bash League.
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From the Melbourne T10 Invitational to the Top End.
Having taken the eye and a bag of wickets in the T10 series at the Junction Oval in April, leg-spinner Michael Archer has earned a trip to Darwin with the Melbourne Renegades.
The Carlton star is in the Gades’ Academy squad for next month’s Top End T20 tournament.
Teams from the Strikers, Scorchers, Stars, Hurricanes, ACT, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal will take part.
Archer, a schoolteacher, took the most wickets (15) in the inaugural Melbourne T10 Invitational, counting a hat-trick in his haul.
One coach who watched the series said Archer showed he had a good over-spinner and wrong ‘un and bowled at a good pace, making it difficult for batsmen to read him.
“It’s an awesome opportunity for him,’’ Carlton coach Evan Gulbis said this afternoon.
“He’s been a standout player for in all forms, let alone the T20. He did really well in the T10 tournament and he deserves his chance. He’s a pretty good player.’’
From Tatura in regional Victoria, Archer started in Victorian Premier Cricket at Greenvale Kangaroos in 2020-21, crossing to Carlton for the 2023-24 season. It culminated in the Blues brilliantly and thrillingly conjuring a reverse outright to defeat Casey South Melbourne at Windy Hill.
Another fine performance from Carlton leggie Michael Archer in @vicpremcricket yesterday, taking 4-68 off 29 overs as the Blues held out Prahran. It followed his three wickets against the Bombers in Round 1. He's coming through as a prospect for higher cricket. pic.twitter.com/sPh8q9sXub
— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) October 19, 2024
In 34 matches for the Blues he’s poached 67 wickets at 19.79.
“He bowls at the stumps and he’s hard to pick,’’ Gulbis said of Archer.
“He’s more like your Rashid Khan than your Shane Warne.’’
The Blues also have 17-year-old Aryan Shama going to Darwin, with the Melbourne Stars Academy team.
The Melbourne Renegades will also take emerging Casey South Melbourne paceman Harry Hoekstra to Darwin.
Left-armer Hoekstra, from Leongatha, represented the Australian Under-19 team in India last year and is making pleasing progress with the Swannies under the coaching of ex-Victorian quickie Will Carr.
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